New WO RAF

[Toadstool]

Congratulations Subby, looking forward to working with you.

https://raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-commanders/warrant-officer-of-the-royal-air-force/

Subramaniam is an Air and Space Operations Manager, whose service in the last 15 years has predominantly been in the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), Missile Warning (MW), Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) field. Prior to joining the Royal Air Force in 1998, Subramaniam served in the Royal Engineers with 106 Field Squadron/12 Force (Air) Support Group, 36 Engineering Regiment.

On completion of Trade Training Subramaniam was posted to RAF Neatishead and subsequently to Buchan to perform Air Defence duties. In 2004 he was posted to the Maritime Component Command Northwood as the Recognised Maritime Intelligence Operator, working in N2/3 in a surface/sub-surface Intelligence Production Cell in support of Maritime Operations around the world.

In 2007 Subramaniam spent the next three years at Air Command Bunker dealing with pan-government resilience operations, he also gained Missile Warning Operator and Data Links Network Manager qualifications. In 2010, he was selected for an assignment to Buckley Air Force Base to the SBIRS programme; he qualified as a Systems Crew Chief. His duties involved supervising satellite operations and ground systems configurations in support of worldwide operations exploiting Overhead Persistent Infrared Constellation. He was then selected to lead Ops Group Training, Standard & Evaluation as a Flight Chief.

In 2014, Subramaniam was posted to RAF Fylingdales where he continued to use his SBIRS background and further develop MW and SDA knowledge and skills. On completion of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systems Course, he served as a Crew Chief before taking up the post of Deputy Plans and Mission Support Flight. Subramaniam moved to Air Command and spent a year in Air and Space Operations profession, where he was principally involved in all issues related to training and workforce requirements. In 2019, he was promoted and appointed as WO BMD and Link 16 in Air Capability delivering UK Ballistic Missile Defence and L16 upgrade program. During the Integrated Review, he was selected to assist the Chief of Staff Capability as Deputy Staff Officer.

In Sep 21, Subramaniam was appointed as the inaugural Command Warrant Officer to the United Kingdom Space Command. During his tenure, he also supported the Space Command Capability branch on SDA and Command and Control Systems delivery. In Mar 22, he was selected as the first RAF WO to attend the Command Senior Enlisted Staff Course at Baltic Defence College in Estonia. Subramaniam graduated with the Commandant’s Award for outstanding academics and leadership.

In Apr 23, he was appointed to his current role as Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force.

Subramaniam was educated in Malaysia until the age of 19, he earned a Bachelor of Law and a Diploma in Higher Education in Finance and Legal Studies. He is currently studying for his Master in Business Administration Risk and Resilience at Buckinghamshire New University.

Subramaniam is married to a Civil Servant who is currently employed at Air Command. They have a teenage daughter and a lively cocker spaniel. He is an active member of a Charity Foundation and a compulsive reader who enjoys rugby, hockey and cricket.

[downsizer]

Made up, pointless job. Like command WOs, and Group WOs. And like SWOs to be fair.

[dctyke]

At least he will get to see what a flying unit looks like now.

[langleybaston]

Made up, pointless job. Like command WOs, and Group WOs. And like SWOs to be fair.

Permit please a civvy with many many years served alongside the RAF on many many airfields.

I disagree about the lack of value of SWOs. I have met a goodly number, usually not in the line of duty, but in the peripheral, secondary or tertiary duties. Nobody but nobody is in a better position to act as enabler, standardiser, confessor, exemplar. An example was Mr Smith at RAF Nicosia c. 1962,. Immaculate [he changed into fresh KD after lunch], all-seeing, fatherly and fierce. My National Service airmen loved him and feared him, which is as it should be.

Subsequently my advice to young Met. folk was to keep on the right side of: Staish, OC Ops or Flying, the SWO, WO MT Section and the Mess WO.

[BBadanov]

Permit please a civvy with many many years served alongside the RAF on many many airfields.
I disagree about the lack of value of SWOs. I have met a goodly number, usually not in the line of duty, but in the peripheral, secondary or tertiary duties. Nobody but nobody is in a better position to act as enabler, standardiser, confessor, exemplar. An example was Mr Smith at RAF Nicosia c. 1962,. Immaculate [he changed into fresh KD after lunch], all-seeing, fatherly and fierce. My National Service airmen loved him and feared him, which is as it should be.
Subsequently my advice to young Met. folk was to keep on the right side of: Staish, OC Ops or Flying, the SWO, WO MT Section and the Mess WO.

Mate, we will overlook all the duff met forecasts you gave, but you obviously had time to go to the Mess for lunch, and so did your beloved SWO in 1962 (not many since then eh?), and for him to have time to then change uniforms to ponce around says it all.

[MAINJAFAD]

Congratulations Subby, looking forward to working with you.

https://raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-commanders/warrant-officer-of-the-royal-air-force/

Subramaniam is an Air and Space Operations Manager, whose service in the last 15 years has predominantly been in the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), Missile Warning (MW), Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) field. Prior to joining the Royal Air Force in 1998, Subramaniam served in the Royal Engineers with 106 Field Squadron/12 Force (Air) Support Group, 36 Engineering Regiment.

On completion of Trade Training Subramaniam was posted to RAF Neatishead and subsequently to Buchan to perform Air Defence duties. In 2004 he was posted to the Maritime Component Command Northwood as the Recognised Maritime Intelligence Operator, working in N2/3 in a surface/sub-surface Intelligence Production Cell in support of Maritime Operations around the world.

In 2007 Subramaniam spent the next three years at Air Command Bunker dealing with pan-government resilience operations, he also gained Missile Warning Operator and Data Links Network Manager qualifications. In 2010, he was selected for an assignment to Buckley Air Force Base to the SBIRS programme; he qualified as a Systems Crew Chief. His duties involved supervising satellite operations and ground systems configurations in support of worldwide operations exploiting Overhead Persistent Infrared Constellation. He was then selected to lead Ops Group Training, Standard & Evaluation as a Flight Chief.

In 2014, Subramaniam was posted to RAF Fylingdales where he continued to use his SBIRS background and further develop MW and SDA knowledge and skills. On completion of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systems Course, he served as a Crew Chief before taking up the post of Deputy Plans and Mission Support Flight. Subramaniam moved to Air Command and spent a year in Air and Space Operations profession, where he was principally involved in all issues related to training and workforce requirements. In 2019, he was promoted and appointed as WO BMD and Link 16 in Air Capability delivering UK Ballistic Missile Defence and L16 upgrade program. During the Integrated Review, he was selected to assist the Chief of Staff Capability as Deputy Staff Officer.

In Sep 21, Subramaniam was appointed as the inaugural Command Warrant Officer to the United Kingdom Space Command. During his tenure, he also supported the Space Command Capability branch on SDA and Command and Control Systems delivery. In Mar 22, he was selected as the first RAF WO to attend the Command Senior Enlisted Staff Course at Baltic Defence College in Estonia. Subramaniam graduated with the Commandant’s Award for outstanding academics and leadership.

In Apr 23, he was appointed to his current role as Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force.

Subramaniam was educated in Malaysia until the age of 19, he earned a Bachelor of Law and a Diploma in Higher Education in Finance and Legal Studies. He is currently studying for his Master in Business Administration Risk and Resilience at Buckinghamshire New University.

Subramaniam is married to a Civil Servant who is currently employed at Air Command. They have a teenage daughter and a lively cocker spaniel. He is an active member of a Charity Foundation and a compulsive reader who enjoys rugby, hockey and cricket.

Worked with him at Neatishead 20 years ago, A really good bloke.

[vascodegama]

Can we expect a remade Xmas message then?

[Sky Sports]

Standby for the arrival of the "He won't be any good in the role because he wasn't a pilot" comments. ;)

[charliegolf]

Only what 'we' had was any good...

CG

[Lordflasheart]

With his experience and qualifications he'd be a good candidate for CAS

[Flying_Scotsman]

I'm obviously well out of date. What is his brevet? I can't see it clearly in the picture.

[The Nip]

This post was not created in 1996, CASWO was the original title.
There was never any suggestion then that this post conferred being the senior WO.

Will we see further titles created similar to the Army, Conductor, ASM etc all vying for the most senior WO bragging rights?

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

Is he the new Warrant Office (King's Edition) ?

I am sure he is a very capable man but given the recent history of hitting diversity targets it does make one wonder (rightly or wrongly) if key posts are getting filled based on ability or on how good the candidate looks in promo leaflets and adverts.

[TUPE]

I'm obviously well out of date. What is his brevet? I can't see it clearly in the picture.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/474x266/img_5974_f1d07e0820f1c25c46e25a5d7b66f2c09e939e82.jpeg

[4mastacker]

Good luck to the bloke (am I allowed to use that term?).

Can't help but notice that's some monster rank badge he's got on his sleeve. Why doesn't he wear it further up his arm like his Army counterpart then the post would be known as "The Crab's Badge" - something that rolls off the tongue a lot easier than 'Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force'. ;)

[MPN11]

W[o]RAF ... risky title. One typo and you're toast!

[langleybaston]

Good luck to the bloke (am I allowed to use that term?).

Can't help but notice that's some monster rank badge he's got on his sleeve. Why doesn't he wear it further up his arm like his Army counterpart then the post would be known as "The Crab's Badge" - something that rolls off the tongue a lot easier than 'Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force'. ;)

Two things please:

I cannot see a badge on the posted picture

Strictly speaking it is not a rank badge, it is an appointment badge if different from Tate & Lyle ........ regardless, he is a WO.

[Ninthace]

Two things please:

I cannot see a badge on the posted picture

Strictly speaking it is not a rank badge, it is an appointment badge if different from Tate & Lyle ........ regardless, he is a WO.
Either that or he is in the band! :E

[Two's in]

Two things please:

I cannot see a badge on the posted picture

Strictly speaking it is not a rank badge, it is an appointment badge if different from Tate & Lyle ........ regardless, he is a WO.

The good thing about a real Tate and Lyle badge is very few people dare ask you about how it is worn!

[212man]

He doesn't look very happy about it..... Hopefully he will have a less colourful tenure than his Army counterpart Glenn Haughton recently had!

[minigundiplomat]

Is he the new Warrant Office (King's Edition) ?

I am sure he is a very capable man but given the recent history of hitting diversity targets it does make one wonder (rightly or wrongly) if key posts are getting filled based on ability or on how good the candidate looks in promo leaflets and adverts.

I don't know the guy, and have no reason to doubt he is an exceptional WO and the right choice for the job, but the fact you raise that point just shows how dangerous Wigstons' tinkering has been. Wigston should have been sacked some time ago, and the fact he wasn't tells us about our political leadership. The fact he wasn't given a reality check by those close to him tells about those that succeed him. Either way, by ramming through diversity in such a hamfisted way, he's actually prejudiced opinion of minorities, with people questioning why they are in elevated posts.

In short -Wiggy is a tool and has buggered the RAF for years to come.

[langleybaston]

He doesn't look very happy about it..... Hopefully he will have a less colourful tenure than his Army counterpart Glenn Haughton recently had!

Actually Haughton, before his fall from Grace, rose one higher ..... he was SEAC, thus the sycophant of the Chief of Defence Staff. The badge surpassed the incumbent in ugliness.

[Toadstool]

Is he the new Warrant Office (King's Edition) ?

I am sure he is a very capable man but given the recent history of hitting diversity targets it does make one wonder (rightly or wrongly) if key posts are getting filled based on ability or on how good the candidate looks in promo leaflets and adverts.

In this case, wrongly. Perhaps you want to meet him face to face to discuss your concerns about whether or not he is a diversity appointment. In fact, can I be there when you do?

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

In this case, wrongly. Perhaps you want to meet him face to face to discuss your concerns about whether or not he is a diversity appointment. In fact, can I be there when you do?
I would be more than happy to meet him. I am sure he is a more than capable individual, but as someone else pointed out, the meddling and diversity-pushing malarkey means the question will overshadow any posting where the appointee is something other than a white-skinned, fully-limbed, stable-gender, heterosexual.

If he is as smart as I supect he is, he too will understand why the matter is raised.
If he is smarter than us, which I suspect he is, he too will realise that I am an advocate "of right person for the job" and any of the qualities I list should make no difference. sadly due to recent historical events (Top Gun 2 Premier request for non-white pilots to front the RAF presence - as a prime example) is appointment will always be questioned, perhaps even by the gentleman himself. " Did I get here because I am good at what I do, or did I get here because some woke senior officer wanted a pin-up poster boy".

[Toadstool]

I would be more than happy to meet him. I am sure he is a more than capable individual, but as someone else pointed out, the meddling and diversity-pushing malarkey means the question will overshadow any posting where the appointee is something other than a white-skinned, fully-limbed, stable-gender, heterosexual.

If he is as smart as I supect he is, he too will understand why the matter is raised.
If he is smarter than us, which I suspect he is, he too will realise that I am an advocate "of right person for the job" and any of the qualities I list should make no difference. sadly due to recent historical events (Top Gun 2 Premier request for non-white pilots to front the RAF presence - as a prime example) is appointment will always be questioned, perhaps even by the gentleman himself. " Did I get here because I am good at what I do, or did I get here because some woke senior officer wanted a pin-up poster boy".

Splendid. PM me and I’ll try to arrange it. You can bring it up to him why wokism (diversity and inclusivity) is affecting the RAF. As a current serving member of 37 years I don’t see the issue, but as a retired RAF person who knows better, in the good old days of sexism, misogyny, homophobia, racism and general bullying (when I joined up) you could tell us how bad it is for the RAF that all of this is now unacceptable.

By the way, you are the first and only person who questioned his appointment, on this thread, till now.

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

You are completely missing the point of my post.

[Toadstool]

You are completely missing the point of my post.

Apologies if I have. Perhaps he will laugh heartily and will agree with you when you meet after you ask him if he’s just a poster boy.

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

Apologies if I have. Perhaps he will laugh heartily and will agree with you when you meet after you ask him if he’s just a poster boy.
Toadstool May I ask you a question or two.

Hand on heart, do YOU believe that in your (substantial) career, promotions and postings have been based purely on merit and an unquestionable ability to do the job?
Have you ever thought that some were chosen based on factors other than ability, perhaps to fill unspoken quotas?

If you can honestly answer YES and then NO to the above questions. Then you my friend are unique in the Service.
If your answers are anything other than those responses then you and I, and many others are on the same song-sheet.

The ones who "suffer", for want of a better word, are those that meet the unspoken box-tick requirements but ARE the best for the job.